RCC 2s let slip a slim chance of a win.

After a long hard summer of cricket RCC went into the last game of the season with promotion still a remote possibility. Things did not start well with the skipper losing yet another vital toss. Put into bat, an excellent knock from Clive Henderson (70*) allowed RCC to post a competitive total that kept the opposition interested in a win throughout the game.

Henderson hit the ball cleanly in the V and left the Worplesdon bowlers scratching their heads. In fact, Henderson was doing so well he even managed to run a few 2s and 3s, where unfortunately he ended up pulling a hamstring and thereby making a case for a late entry to the GB para-olympic squad. Out came Marc Moderegger to run for Henderson. Little did he know that Henderson was to carry his bat and guide RCC to full batting points at 180 runs.

No sooner had Moderegger hung up his batting pads, than he would be pulling on his wicket-keeping protection, and all of this on a swollen knee that hasn’t been right since about 1989. It was a mammoth effort from both Henderson, but particularly Moderegger, whose sharp running between the wickets had boosted the score with vital extra quick runs. RCC declared leaving W&B 50 overs to chase down the target.

Opening with spin and the old ball RCC tempted the batters to keep up with the run chase. Floating the ball up in the air the chances did eventually fall to the RCC fielders. Unfortunately, on the day too many chances were grassed. 5 catches dropped will not win the team matches and this will need hard work next season.

As it stands the League is in a bit of a flux with a restructuring in progress. The season ends with the 2s achieving a creditable 6th place in the League. The disappointment remains that it all could have been much better… From the ashes will rise a better team, more aware of what is required and more willing to practise those fundamentals of the game – particularly batting and catching.

I would like to thank everyone who has given their time to the 2s this season – from the umpires who have been excellent, the ladies who have helped to make the fantastic teas and all the players who have got stuck into some competitive League cricket that has always been played in the right spirit.

As skipper, this has been a thoroughly rewarding experience, with an awesome bunch of lads who have given everything for Roehampton Cricket Club. What more could anyone ask for?

A special mention goes to Marc Moderegger for all his great work at the club in pitch preparation in officially the wettest summer in 100 years and his fine work as vice-skipper. Well done Mods!

Man of the match: Clive Henderson.
(report by Hemish Gunasekara)